Her cover of Ciara’s “Promise” breaks a million views and gains a new fan in Dupri, who reaches out to Phatfffat via several unresponded messages on YouTube. Dupri requests Phatfffat and her mother to fly out to Atlanta to record with quartet Jagged Edge. And then, the dominoes start to fall.
It’s now 2007, of course, and Dupri has other plans. Phatfffat, overwhelmed with excitement just to record with Jagged Edge, would have a recording contract waiting on her. The opportunity still overwhelms and excites her to this very day. Phatfffat earns another cameo on a Bow Wow single, “Like This,” and records her first single, “Can’t Stop,” in 2008 – a 60s Motown-like song equipped with girl group overdubs, catchy piano loops, and bouncy handclaps also co-written by vocalist Chrisette Michelle. “Why You Hurtin’ Me,” a conga-induced R&B number with sonic synth riffs, puts a cheating lover on blast on record. Never one to not thank nor bless her fans, Phatfffat, now Dondria, releases a 2009 mixtape, Dondria Duets, that revisits those R&B cover records that gained her millions of fans and friends in high places. The mixtape was even available for fans to download for free.
Dondria is quite wise beyond her years. She’s not afraid to admit that she’s too young to remember certain eras of music or the quiet storm for that matter. She knows and reiterates that she’s blessed. She constantly expresses sincere gratitude as people approach her about her music and her vocal prowess. She’s assertive enough to know what she wants out of her music and from her fans. “I really want to keep pushing,” she says. “I want people to be like ‘We know – we know.’ I’m really trying to bring real R&B and soul back. When you listen to stuff that came out in the 80s and 90s, it just gave you this certain feeling. You know, it’s 2010 but you can still listen to that music and still be in your zone, still love it, and appreciate it like you did as if it were made today. So I am gonna make that music that last for years and years and years and years, and it will always be appreciated.”
Now, what starts as purely accidental is Dondria’s dream come true. The old soul’s major debut effort, Dondria vs. Phatfffat, is set for an Aug. 17 release date. The album pays homage to the social media starlet’s evolution and split personalities. Already armed with an incredible buzz, Dondria is also the opening act for vocalists Trey Songz and Monica on the Passion, Pain, and Pleasure Tour.
Even her manager looks on and respects Dondria’s focus and wisdom. She is destined to not become another conventional female vocalist, studio concoction, diva, or prima donna. Dondria’s manager is proud of her responses and knows that Dondria is golden – even as her manager tries to play with her iPhone to forward her contact information. But when it’s all said and done, Dondria wants longevity. “I wanna be appreciated, and I wanna be respected,” she says. “I’m not trying to be a one hit wonder or come out with one album and you never see me again. You don’t’ have to talk about certain things that you’re uncomfortable with or dress certain ways. You can be yourself and still make good music, still be appreciated, still be respected, and do great things. I’m trying to create a brand that is gonna last forever.”
